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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Time to Bloom!

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

As usual, the flower parade has begun with the daffodils leading the way, to be followed closely by the tulips. Growing tired of winter, I was thrilled to notice the daffodil shoots pushing above ground outside my classroom during the last week of February - and I have been observing them with my students and photographing them ever since. They became a symbol of hope and spring, and I enjoyed watching the yellow tips mature and bulge.

Yesterday was the first day back from spring vacation, and I hoped they hadn't bloomed in my absence. I was not disappointed! They were just about ready.

This morning, I arrived at school anticipating something wonderful - and here is what I found:

The sight filled me with joy.

I observed the daffodils obsessively throughout the day. And they couldn't have picked a better day to bloom.

It so happened that our big book read-aloud story for the day (as per our language arts core curriculum) was Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus. This is a story about a young tiger named Leo who couldn't read, write, draw, or "eat neatly" like his friends. I introduced the story by talking about what it means to bloom - how flowers bloom and how people bloom, as well. I gave an example of my mother learning to play guitar in her mid-70s and talked about how beautiful it is to see someone bloom and how good it feels to bloom. I also mentioned that our daffodils were in the process of blooming today, and the children were eager to see for themselves since we'd been watching and waiting for so long.

But first we read the story. Young Leo wore a sad expression on his face throughout most of the book as he tried unsuccessfully to do what his friends were doing. His dad was worried, too, and told Leo's mom that he's afraid Leo is not a bloomer. His mom, however, had faith in Leo's natural developmental rhythm and assured his dad that Leo will bloom in his own time. The dad tried not to worry, but as Leo continued not to bloom, he couldn't help but worry. Again, the mom reassured him that Leo will bloom when he is ready. And at last...Leo bloomed! He was able to read, write, draw, and eat neatly. And he was so proud.I love the message of this story. It saddens me that recent public education mandates have raised the academic bar so much higher for kindergartners, and as a result there is little tolerance for the natural developmental rhythms of diverse learners. I tell parents at the beginning of each school year that my primary goals for their children are for them to enjoy coming to school, to love learning, and to feel good about themselves. And yet, even in kindergarten, teachers are required to identify children who are not meeting grade level benchmarks and to provide them with intervention services designed to accelerate their learning so they will catch up and end the year where they are expected to be. Although I agree - and have seen for myself - that children are often capable of more than we may imagine - I worry that this approach may result in more young children feeling badly about themselves and feeling self-conscious about not measuring up. Some children are ready for the new, more demanding kindergarten curriculum, but others are not. I wish we had greater freedom to honor children's developmental rhythms and to rely more on authentic assessment methods.I really enjoyed reading and discussing Leo the Late Bloomer with the children. We talked about how poor Leo felt bad about himself and how his dad was worried about him - but also about how his mom had faith that he would bloom in his own time. I really stressed his mother's attitude, hoping to get across the message that children bloom in their own time - and not to worry if something is very difficult for you because eventually it will get easier. Don't worry or compare yourself to others. You will arrive in your own time. I have faith in you. Despite all the report card testing, benchmark testing, and progress monitoring, I have faith in you, and I know there is something each one of you does really well. It might not be something we assess in school, but it is important and valuable nonetheless.

After reading the story, we had snack time, and the children wanted to see the daffodils, so I took them outside one table group at a time. It was so beautiful to watch their faces light up when they saw the daffodils opening and beginning to bloom.

We noticed that some of the
daffodils were blooming more quickly than others. Each of them was
growing and opening their petals at a slightly different pace. And each will become a beautiful, fully formed flower in its own time. We continued to observe the daffodils throughout the day, during recess and at dismissal.

We have observed the daffodils since we noticed the first shoots and talked about how people and flowers are alike in the way they bloom. And it seems my students have developed reverence for the daffodils in our little garden. They are protective of the flowers and remind children in other classes to be gentle and to keep a safe distance.

I hope that the ways in which our curriculum coincided with natural phenomena today deepened my students' connection with the natural world. I hope they will grow to regard nature as a mirror of their own social, emotional, and spiritual selves and to find strength and hope in the metaphors offered so abundantly by the natural world. The first of our daffodils will be in full bloom tomorrow.

And woe to any unsuspecting child who innocently attempts to pick one. I don't think my students would stand for it!

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RIVER BLISS HAS MOVED!

About Me

When you fall in love with a river, you find that it is connected with everything else.
Greetings from the Upper Hudson River! "River bliss" is my name for the state of consciousness I experience while floating on the river in my kayak. It is my medicine for inner peace, clarity, and creativity. This blog is my attempt to share beauty, peace, and awe through images and words that greet me in stillness on the river and in other sacred places. It is my greatest joy to awaken and inspire others through discovering and sharing magic moments, and I invite you to join me on this journey.